You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”
Pharaoh has just heard a prisoner explain his dreams, and now he hands him everything but the throne. Two questions follow: what did Joseph actually receive, and why do so many writers read this promotion as a picture of Christ?
From the dungeon to the second place
Joseph did not climb toward this. He went from the lowest place in Egypt to the highest in one move.
William KellyHis brothers had no idea what they were doing. Their envious hatred was only the means of bringing about his exaltation — the exaltation that would make them bow to him and keep them alive. The Gentiles could not see it either. He was guiltless, and the punishment inflicted on him was unjust. Yet that punishment was the necessary link in God's wonderful chain that put the rule of the world-kingdom into his hand! For years he had endured prison as a criminal of the worst reputation. Now he was about to pass in one step to the highest dignity and the largest power. "Only as regards the throne," as the king said, "will I be greater than you."
The force of "as you command"
An older English version reads "shall all my people be ruled." The Hebrew is sharper, and uses a vivid picture of submission.
The Bible Treasury"According to your word shall all my people be ruled." This is too free. The Hebrew reads: "And on your mouth shall all my people kiss." Compare Ps. 2:12. Samuel kissed Saul when he anointed him (1 Sam. 10:1).
The verse first sets Joseph over the king's house. One writer draws the line from there to God's house.
Truth & TestimonyJust as Pharaoh, the supreme ruler, said to Joseph of old, "You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command," so God has made Christ Lord over all things in His house.
What the king kept and what he gave
Pharaoh holds back one thing: the throne. He keeps the dignity of his own place, and hands over the working authority.
L. M. GrantJoseph's word was to rule all the people of Egypt. Pharaoh would of course not give his throne to Joseph, but he would depend on Joseph to manage all his affairs. The dignity of Pharaoh's position remained, but he gave authority into Joseph's hand. There is an analogy here. God always remains in the dignity of eternal glory. Yet He has given His beloved Son the place of supreme authority over His creation.
Suffering first, then glory
Writers trace the whole chain of events here: pit, dungeon, palace. They read it as a picture of the Lord Jesus.
C. H. MackintoshContrast this with the pit and the dungeon. Mark the chain of events that brought it all about. In it you have at once a marked display of the hand of God, and a striking picture of the sufferings and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. The envy of his brothers and the false judgement of the Gentile had put Joseph into the pit and the dungeon. Yet he was taken from there to be ruler over the whole land of Egypt — and more, to be the channel of blessing and the sustainer of life to Israel and the whole earth. Here is a man put, for all practical purposes, in the place of death by the hand of man, and then raised up by the hand of God and set in dignity and glory.
The ground of the promotion
Pharaoh promotes Joseph for one reason: the man himself. The same principle stands behind the exaltation of Christ.
C. KnappEgypt gave Joseph his place of exaltation on one ground only: his personal worth and the real service he had done for the country and kingdom of Egypt. And Philippians 2 shows that God has exalted Jesus (as a man) for one reason only — personal worthiness and obedience to the point of death.
Submission now or submission later
Everyone in Egypt had to fall in line with Joseph's word. Submission to Christ is coming for all, gladly or under force.
Hamilton SmithIf Joseph is supreme, all are called to submit. It is the same today. God has exalted the Lord Jesus and given Him a Name which is above every name, and the purpose is "that at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow." The Christian is glad to bow during the plentiful years of grace. The world will have to bow in the years of famine.
Summary
- Pit — Joseph moved from prison to power in one step. The injustice done to him was the very link God used to get him there.
- Word — the Hebrew says more than "be ruled". The whole nation was to kiss his mouth and order their lives by his command.
- Throne — Pharaoh kept the throne and gave away the authority. In the same way, God keeps His eternal glory and gives His Son supreme authority over creation.
- Worth — no birth, no politics. Joseph rose for his own worth and service, and God exalted Christ for His worthiness and obedience to death.
- Knee — every knee will bow to the exalted One. The only question is whether you bow now in the years of plenty, or later under force.